JERUSALEM, Sept 29, 2008 (AFP) - Israel closed the West Bank on Sunday at midnight ahead of the celebration of the Jewish New Year festival of Rosh Hashana, amid fear of attacks by Palestinian militants.

An army spokesman said in a statement that the measure would be lifted on Wednesday at midnight (2100 GMT).

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, March 21, 2008 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of Kurds celebrated Newroz, their new year, across Turkey Friday under tight security less than a month after a Turkish army incursion against Kurdish rebel bases in neighbouring northern Iraq.

VIENNA, Jan 2, 2008 (AFP) - More than one million people watched the live broadcast of Vienna's traditional New Year's concert this year, Austrian broadcaster ORF said Wednesday.

Up to 1,112 million viewers tuned in on Tuesday to see the Vienna Philharmonic perform some of the most well-known Strauss waltzes, led for the first time this year by a Frenchman, George Pretre.

TOKYO, Jan 2, 2008 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of cheering Japanese gathered in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Wednesday to hear Emperor Akihito pray for the nation's happiness and world peace in his traditional New Year address.

Millions more descended on Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and other places of worship as well as shopping and entertainment centres across the country.

ULAN BATOR, Jan 2, 2008 (AFP) - Eleven New Year revellers in Mongolia died and dozens more fell seriously ill after drinking vodka that contained industrial alcohol, authorities said Wednesday.

PARIS, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Tuesday he was 'satisfied' with New Year's Eve celebrations across the country which passed off without any major security headaches.

LONDON, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - London's New Year's Day Parade wound through the city streets Tuesday with thousands of entertainers and performers welcoming in 2008 with singing, dancing and carnival floats.

NEW YORK, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Millions staged parties at iconic landmarks around the world to bid farewell to 2007 and ring in 2008, although bomb attacks and security fears darkened some New Year festivities.

HAVANA, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Fidel Castro commended Cubans for their 'resistence' in defending the communist-ruled country's revolution as it enters its 50th year, in a message read out on official media Tuesday.

VIENNA, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - The Vienna Philharmonic's renown New Year's concert played off a football metaphor Tuesday for an audience of tens of millions across 54 countries.

ROME, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Three brave souls dove into the frigid waters of Rome's River Tiber on Tuesday, observing a decades-old New Year's Day tradition, one achieving the feat for the 20th time.

Maurizio Palmulli, 55, performed a graceful swan dive, emerging to don a blue bathrobe and accept compliments from dozens of well-wishers on Rome's Cavour Bridge.

PARIS, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - More than 370 cars were torched in the French suburbs overnight and 259 people arrested, but police said Tuesday that New Year's celebrations were calmer than last year's festivities.

Four police officers were slightly injured in clashes but there was no vandalism of public buildings or private residences in the high-immigrant suburbs, police said.

BEIJING, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - China rang in the New Year Tuesday vowing to spare no effort in hosting the Olympic Games, which state media said offered a chance to showcase 5,000 years of culture and history.

In a message carried by state media, President Hu Jintao said China would 'spare no effort and enthusiasm' to make August's Beijing Games a resounding success.

NEW YORK, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Millions staged midnight parties at iconic landmarks around the world to ring in 2008, but bomb attacks and security fears quickly darkened New Year festivities.

NEW YORK, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Millions staged midnight parties at icon landmarks around the world to see in 2008, but bomb attacks and security fears quickly darkened New Year festivities.

LONDON, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Millions staged midnight parties at icon landmarks around the world to see in 2008 but bomb attacks and security fears quickly darkened New Year festivities.

LONDON, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Millions staged midnight parties at icon landmarks around the world to see in 2008 but bomb attacks and security fears quickly darkened New Year festivities.

NEW YORK, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of people gathered late Monday at Manhattan's fabled Times Square to greet the New Year, amid stringent security measures.

LONDON, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Millions staged midnight parties at icon landmarks around the world to see in 2008 but bomb attacks and security fears quickly darkened New Year festivities.

VENICE, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of people took part in a giant New Year's kiss in front of Saint Mark's Basilica in the romantic Italian city of Venice.

Under a sky lit with fireworks some 60,000 people kissed in the 'Love 2008' event, organiser Marco Balich told Italy's ANSA news agency.

BERLIN, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Millions staged midnight parties at icon landmarks around the world to see in 2008 but bomb attacks and security fears quickly darkened New Year festivities.

ABIDJAN, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo vowed 2008 would be the 'year of elections' in a New Year address Monday, noting advances in the country's peace process despite a rebel shootout last week.

BAGHDAD, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Iraqis surged into the streets of Baghdad in their thousands Monday to celebrate the New Year, shooting firecrackers and unloading weapons into the cold night sky, playing drums and dancing amid the debris of the war-ravaged capital.

NEW YORK, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - The ball that drops in New York's Times Square to ring in the New Year celebrates its 100th anniversary on Monday night, with a dazzling display of new environmentally-friendly lights.

SYDNEY, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Millions of people across Asia and eastern Europe rang in 2008 with parties, champagne and massive fireworks displays, kicking off a global wave of celebrations.

MOSCOW, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of Muscovites flocked to Moscow's Red Square to celebrate New Year of 2008 at an open-air concert, a skating rink and a boom of the Kremlin's chief tower clock.

Some 50,000 people crowded in the Red Square, a police official told AFP, forcing the police to cordon off the area as Moscow's sky came afire with massive fireworks.

BAGHDAD, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Iraqis surged into the streets of Baghdad in their thousands Monday to celebrate the New Year, shooting firecrackers and weapons into the cold night sky, playing drums and dancing amid the debris of the war-ravaged capital.

The joyous scenes reflected the upbeat mood of a city struggling to emerge from years of war and turmoil.

ABUJA, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - President Umaru Yar'Adua on Monday urged his fellow Nigerians to help improve living standards, to strengthen the country's institutions and to speed economic growth.

MOSCOW, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Moscow pet shops are reporting a run on rats, as keen astrologically-minded Russians snap them up ahead of the New Year, which is the Chinese Year of the Rat, Interfax news agency reported Monday.

Desperate shoppers are even resorting to buying mice, hamsters or gerbils in lieu of a real, domestic rat, according to one shop in the capital.

PARIS, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday vowed to push ahead with reforms in 2008 and make France the soul and leader of a 'Renaissance in the Old World.'

In a New Year's message delivered live from the Elysee presidential palace, Sarkozy said the task of reforming the country was 'huge, given that France is lagging so far behind the rest of the world.'

KIGALI, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Hours before marking the New Year, the Rwandan government issued a statement Monday imposing a strict ban on several people drinking from the same glass or with the same straw.

The health ministry statement read on government radio said the measure was aimed at tackling the spread of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.

VLADIVOSTOK, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Vladimir Putin used his final New Year address as president before standing down in March to congratulate Russia on a 'national renaissance' driven by its 'colossal resources.'

SYDNEY, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - Sydney welcomed in the New Year in spectacular fashion with a massive fireworks display watched by more than a million people lining the harbour of Australia's largest city.

SYDNEY, Jan 1, 2008 (AFP) - More than one million people lined Sydney Harbour to witness a spectacular fireworks display as worldwide celebrations to ring in the New Year began in the Asia-Pacific region.

MBABANE, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Swaziland was wrapping up Monday one its most sacred traditional ceremonies, the Incwala festival, after two months of secret rituals aimed at ushering in the New Year.

SYDNEY, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Sydney staged a spectacular curtainraiser to the new year Monday with a massive fireworks display watched by more than one million people lining the harbour of Australia's largest city.

HAVANA, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Cuba is in the midst of four days of partying to celebrate both the arrival of the new year 2008 and the 49th anniversary of the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.

Celebrations include live music, agricultural fairs, circuses and a series of cultural activities, the government-run media reported.

HAVANA, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Cuba is in the midst of four days of partying to celebrate both the arrival of the new year 2008 and the 49th anniversary of the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.

Celebrations include live music, agricultural fairs, circuses and a series of cultural activities, the government-run media reported.

SYDNEY, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Australia's largest city, Sydney, was gearing up Monday for its biggest night of the year, with more than a million revellers expected to line the harbourside for the annual fireworks spectacular.

SYDNEY, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Australia's largest city, Sydney, was gearing up Monday for its biggest night of the year, with more than a million revellers expected to line the harbourside for the annual fireworks spectacular.

BANGKOK, Dec 31, 2007 (AFP) - Security was beefed up across Bangkok Monday, as thousands were expected to throng the streets for New Year celebrations a year after bomb blasts in the Thai capital killed three people.